We humans, even though we are composed of both a physical body and a spiritual soul, sometimes struggle to comprehend truth that cannot be detected by our five physical senses. This has resulted in many of us going through our lives without an acute awareness of the spiritual realm all around us. Furthermore, we are unaware of the constant interaction and intervention of these spiritual beings in our lives. In truth, there is a whole other level of existence, and most of us are unaware!
1. What is a guardian angel?
Guardian angels are members of the ninth and lowest choir of angels. This is the group that is closest to the material realm and interacts directly with us. One translation of the word “angel” means “messenger.” As such, angels are regarded as those who carry God’s messages. While this is true, carrying God’s messages is only a small part of what they do. Another translation of angel as “ambassador” is helpful in painting a broader picture of the role of these spiritual beings.
To put it simply, an ambassador, in the political sense, serves as a representative of his or her home country and within that role helps to improve the relationship between the two countries. This is what each guardian angel attempts to do: improve our relationship with Heaven, most especially with God. Ultimately, your guardian angel works to help you improve your love for God and grow closer to Him so that you will obtain the eternal life for which you were created.
2. When were guardian angels made?
Unlike mankind, angels have no gender and thus cannot reproduce. They are not co-creators with God in this sense. Instead of allowing them to be a part of the process of physical procreation, God created all nine choirs of angels at the same time. The number of angels created is insurmountable, and they came into existence before the creation of the material realm. Scripture tells us they were there when the earth was created and they shouted for joy. Thus, all the guardian angels in existence were made before God created the first man and woman.
3. When was my angel assigned to me?
This answer may surprise you. Your guardian angel was not assigned to you at your birth. He was not even assigned to you at your conception. Your angel was assigned to you at the moment of his creation, which means he spent eternity preparing for his time with you. Likely he was interceding for you before you were even made. It is a breathtaking thought that God matched your angel specifically to you. There is something about him and something about you that God knew would make a fantastic team. You can think of your guardian angel as a kind of best friend or soulmate.
4. When does my angel start “guarding” me?
Seeing as there were countless years between his creation and your birth, it is likely that your guardian angel was doing “prep” work and praying for you before you became a physical reality. As he is immaterial and exists outside of time he can spend his whole existence focused on you. As soon as you came to be—at the moment of your conception—your angel was by your side.
5. If I have a heavenly body guard, why do I still get hurt sometimes?
The title “guardian” can be misleading. Your angel’s main concern is not to protect you from physical harm. His main concern is to help you make it to Heaven. Thus, when it comes to your physical well-being, your angel does not intervene unless the injury could be one that would eternally harm your relationship with God (though they make many exceptions for infants and toddlers without a developed sense of danger and spatial awareness). Or they might intervene to prompt an increase of your faith in God and His care for you.
6. Can we become guardian angels when we die?
No human being becomes an angel when he or she dies. We are completely different creatures; we do not think, move, learn, or act alike. To think we become angels in Heaven is actually more impossible metaphysically than for a cat to become a dog. Angels are pure spirit. In contrast, humans are both spiritual and physical, possessing both a body and a soul. At the end of time, when Jesus returns and we experience that resurrection of the body, every person (whether good or evil) will receive their body back. The angels will be there too, but their roles and duties will shift at that time.
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7. Does my angel have a body?
No, your angel does not have a physical body. Remember he is pure spirit and as such, he is more powerful than you. However, there are times where God permits angels to represent himself in human form in order to interact with us for important reasons. In my own life, I have heard countless stories from family, friends, and strangers in which a person appears seemingly out of nowhere to help them during a time of need. These individuals have all expressed the sense that the person was indeed their guardian angel.
8. Does my angel actually have wings?
Building off the truth that angels are not physical, there are some who try to claim that angels do not have wings. They will argue that wings were originally placed on angels by artists who were attempting to distinguish them from the humans in their paintings. These individuals are mistaken. The first reference to angels possessing wings is found in Scripture when God is giving Moses instructions for constructing the Ark of the Covenant. It was God who first represented angels with wings, but then of course they are only spiritual wings and represent something unique about angels.
9. What does my angel do all day?
The traditional prayer to our guardian angels puts it plainly: they enlighten, guard, rule, and guide. Your angel works non-stop to influence you towards the good. Angels communicate with us via our thoughts and intuition. They can conjure up memories or images and place them within your mind’s eye. Everything is an attempt to inspire you towards virtue and love. If you feel such a prompting, honor the hard work of your angel and act upon it!
10. Can I have more than one guardian angel?
Yes! This is quite possible. My grandmother prayed that God would bless her grandchildren with an additional nine guardian angels after each of our births. While talking with Dr. Mark Miravalle—a theologian specializing in angels—he confirmed that this was indeed possible. He also indicated that God often assigns additional guardian angels to people when they step into important leadership positions, such as the priesthood or presidency.
11. What happens to my guardian angel when I die?
He was with you before you were born, and he will be with you even after you die. Other than God, no one knows you as well as your guardian angel. He will be by your side at your death and accompany you to God’s throne. There, he will serve as witness for you during your particular judgment.
12. Will my guardian angel be assigned to anyone else?
No, there is no “reusing” or “recycling” when it comes to guardian angels. You belong to each other. Even after you die, your angel continues to stay with you. This is true even after the Second Coming of Jesus. Your angel is your eternal companion. The Saints assure us their job will change at this time, as no one will need to be influenced for good. However, they still remain with you.
13. How can I know my angel better?
Genuine awareness and calculated engagement do wonders for fostering relationships. Begin your day with a prayer asking for his assistance. Try to be attentive to his promptings. Ask for his wisdom and help when you are unsure of what to do—he can inspire you in how you should act! If you feel called to do so, you could complete a novena, or even consecrate yourself to your heavenly friend.
Do you have any more questions about your guardian angel? Drop them in the comments!
Grace is a regular contributor to the BIS Blog. She had planned to be a nurse until an encounter with Christ in Confession ignited a spark that resulted in an ongoing career as a high school Theology teacher. Though a cradle Catholic, she continues to be amazed at the depth of peace and joy that can be found within the Faith and can’t help but share that passion with others as a teacher, writer, and speaker. Outside of ministry, she dabbles in a bit of everything, excels in almost nothing, and like most moms, cannot survive without at least one cup of coffee a day. Grace resides in Charleston, SC with her hunky husband and their daughter who looks just like him. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Grace's posts here.
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